From hostage situations to emergency operations to representing the country, former commander of the police special tactics group, Vitale Lafaele (A Canoe Before the Wind), general surgeon, Ineke Meredith (On Call), and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and former Deputy Prime Minister, Carmel Sepuloni are no strangers to high-pressure roles.

These three exceptional leaders sit in conversation with Festival Guest Curator and Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa to discuss the importance of maintaining personal, familial, and community values amidst the pressure of their respective positions. Reflecting on the hardships that led them to grow into the people they are today, this conversation will explore what it means to be a leader and how we can inspire change in the world around us.